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(No ModeL) G. w. WRIGHT. DOOR SPRING AND GHEGL-Z Patented Feb. *1, 1893.

UNr'rnn STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

GRANVILLE W. WRIGHT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SARGENT& COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

D OOR SPRING AND CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,154, dated February7, 1893.

Application filed February 23, 1892. $erial No. 422,473. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, GRANVILLE W. WRIGHT,

Improvement in Door-Checks, (Case B and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and theletters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisspecification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, an under side view. Fig. 2, an under side View of the bottomof the case removed to show the mechanism. Fig. 3, alongitudinalvertical central section through the case showing the magnet in section,the remainder of the mechanism in side view. Fig. 4, a transversesection on line 0c-0c of Fig. 2.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of door-checks tobe used in combination with a door-spring, and so that the closingmovement of the door under the action of the spring, may be checked toprevent its slamming, and particularly applicable to that class in whicha volute spring is employed as the door-spring, the object of theinvention being principally to combine a me-.

- struction as hereinafter described and particularly recited in theclaims.

A, represents the case, which is provided with suitable lugs or flangesB, by which it may be secured to the lintel, or wherever it may bedesired. Within the case a vertical principal shaft 0, is arranged, andsupported in the top and bottom of the case in bearings D D, providedfor the purpose, and so as to permit the shaft to be rotated. Within thecase the steel volute spring E, is arranged, in the usual manner, theouter end of the spring being connected with the case, and the inner endof the spring connected with the shaft, and so that as the shaft isrotated in one direction it will wind the spring, then when free, thereaction of the spring will impart rotation to the shaft in the oppositedirection. At one end of the shaft outside the case, a lever, F, isapplied, which is in connection with the door, in the usual manner, sothatthe opening of the door will turn the shaft in one direction to windthe spring, and so that the reaction of the spring will be communicatedthrough the lever to close the door. As represented, this shaft isprovided with a ratchetwheel G, and the lever provided with a suitablepawl or bolt H, by which the lever may be coupled to the shaft, so thatthe spring may be wound to the required tension, and then engagement bemade between the lever and the shaft, in the usual and well knownmanner. The connections between the shaft and the door are illustrated,but they are too well known to require particular description, and ifpreferred other connecting devices may be employed.

Within the case and at one side of the principal shaft, a secondvertical shaft 1, is arranged, its axis parallel with the axis of theprincipal shaft 0, and the said second shaft is in gear connection withthe principal shaft, and so that a partial rotation of the principalshaft, as in the closing movement of the door, will impart a rapidrotation to the said second shaft. As here represented this gearconnection is produced by a gear-wheel J, preferably loose on the shaft0, but so as to be engaged with the shaft in the closing movement of thedoor. Between the principal shaft 0, and the shaft I, an intermediatevertical shaft K, is arranged, which carries a pinion L, into which thegear J, works, and the shaft K, also carries a gear-wheel M, which worksinto a pinion N, on the shaft I, the difference in the diameters of thegears and pinions is so great that the slow movement of the principalshaft produced as in the closing movement of the door, will impart rapidrevolution to the shaft 1. Within the case a stationary horse-shoemagnet O, is arranged, its arms terminating in two poles P Q on oppositesides of the shaft I, as seen in Fig. 2, and equidistant therefrom;these poles preferably presenting a surface substantially concentricwith the axis of the shaft I,

from the poles.

On the shaft I, an armature is arranged, which will revolve with theshaft, and between the two poles of the magnet. As hero represented thearmature is composed of two cheeks R S, each provided with two guidingspindles T, which slide into corresponding radial tubular arms U on theshaft I, (see broken lines Fig. 4) which permit them to move outward andinward as occasion may require, and the two checks are connected by aspring V, the tendency of which is to draw the cheeks toward the shaft,yet allow the cheeks to move outward under centrifugal force produced bythe rapid revolution of the shaft I, which carries the cheeks. Thearmature thus constructed, may revolve between the two poles of themagnet without contact therewith, the spring normally holding the cheeksof the armature at a slight distance magnet operatesto draw the armaturetoward them, and thereby resists the passage of the armature from thepoles.

In the opening movement of the door, the lever connection rotates theprincipal shaft in one direction, and without engaging the gear wheel J,as will be hereinafter described, but engages the shaft as the doorcloses, and so that the closing movement of the door will impart acorresponding rotation to the gear J, and this rotation of the gear J,will produce a rapid revolution of the shaft I, and the armature whichit carries, and so that the armature will revolve between the two polesof the magnet, such revolution being resisted by the attractive power ofthe magnet tending to arrest the revolution of the shaft each time thearmature is brought into line with the poles, the resistance to therevolution of the shaft I thus produced by the magnet and armature,operates against the closing force applied to the door, and so as toresist the closing to such an extent that the closing movement must becomparatively slow, and so slow that the door will close easily, andthereby prevent slamming.

The cheeks or armature is preferably movable toward and from the shaft,as described, so that as the revolution of the armature shaft increases,the tendency of the centrifugal force is to throw the cheeks outward andinto nearer engagement with the magnets, thereby correspondinglyincreasing the resistance which the magnet offers to the revolution ofthe armature, the tendency of the spring should therefore be arrangedwith re lation to such centrifugal action.

As a means for engaging and disengaging the gear J from the principalshaft, a ratchet-wheel W, is rigidly attached to the shaft, and on thewheel J, a spring-pawl X is hung, adapted to engage the ratchet in theclosing movement of the door, that movement being indicated by thearrow, and so as to escape therefrom in the opening movement of thedoor. This is desirable in order that the checking appliance will notoperate during The attractive force of the the opening movement of thedoor. This is a common device for making such connection anddisconnection, and for which other known devices may be substituted.

The cheeks of the armature may be made stationary with relation to theshaft which carries them if preferred.

The particular construction or kind of magnet employed, is immaterial tothe invention, it only being essential that there shall be a magnet withits armature arranged to revolve rapidly under the closing movement ofthe door.

The checking device may be employed with a spring independentlyapplied,the doorhaving the connection with the principal shaft, asdescribed, and the same as if the spring were in direct connectiontherewith, and so that the closing movement of the door will mpart rapidrevolution to the magnet.

\Vhile representing the apparatus as inclosed within a case, it will beunderstood that this is not essential to the invention, any suitableframe which will snpport the mechanism being sufficient.

I claim 1. A door-check consisting of a magnet, a I

revolving shaft carrying the armature of the magnet, a principal shaft,with connection therefrom to the door, and so that a correspondingrotative movement is imparted to said principal shaft by the opening andclosing movement of the door, gearing between said principal shaft andthe armature, whereby the rotative movement of the said principal shaftwill communicate a rapid revolution to the armature, substantially asdescribed.

2. A door-check consisting of a principal shaft with connectiontherefrom to the door, and so that a corresponding rotative movement isimparted to the said principal shaft by the opening and closing movementof the door, a stationary magnet, a second shaft carrying an armatureadapted to revolve therewith and arranged between the poles of themagnet, a train of gearing between said principle shaft and thearmature-shaft, whereby the rotative movement imparted to said principalshaft will communicate rapid revolution to the armature shaft, andmechanism substantially such as described for disengaging said principalshaft from the gearing in the opening movement and engaging it in theclosing movement of the door, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a case or frame adapted for attachment tothelintel of a door, a vertical principal shaft in said frame, a volutespring, around said shaft, the inner end of the spring secured to saidshaft, and the outer end of the spring secured to the case, a leverextending from the said principal shaft, and adapted to receive aswinging movement in the opening and closing of the door, and impart acorresponding rotative movement to said shaft, a stationary magnetwithin the said shaft with the gearing in the closing movement of thedoor, substantially asdescribed.

In testimonywhereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- 15 ing witnesses:

GRANVILLE Witnesses:

FRED. O. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELSEY.

w. WRIGHT.

